A noisy crowd of pro-Taliban demonstrators marched through the dirt streets of Quetta in Pakistan yesterday, shouting anti- American slogans, threatening revenge if the US pursued military action against Afghanistan.
The demonstrations reflected heightened tension in many parts of the country as rumours of air strikes have begun to spread among the public.
About 10,000 demonstrators took to the streets, some carrying signs reading "America World Biggest Terrorist" as they rode on top of a caravan of buses. They carried an effigy of President Bush, which they beat with sticks and stones. Several also burned American flags.
Many Western journalists, UN staff and Aid agency workers are staying at the Serena Hotel in Quetta, a sprawling six acre compound that is enclosed by walls and gates. The demonstrators marched on the hotel, which was then surrounded by military police which kept hotel guests confined inside and also prevented anyone including business owners with shops on the premises from entering. Police insisted the action was aimed at guest security. The police have also sought to suppress television footage of anti-government demonstrations from being broadcast within the country. The rally was in violation of a current government rule prohibiting unauthorised assembly.
Later in the day the Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr Mauwai Abdul Salem Zaeef, told a news conference in Quetta that the Taliban was ready to negotiate directly with the US concerning the fate of Osama bin Laden. "The starting of war is not simple or easy," Mr Zaeef said. "This will have a very bad result. People in Afghanistan need food, shelter and the reconstruction of the country. Not need war." He insisted that Afghanistan has not participated in international terrorism and called for the US to share with the Taliban any evidence it had against bin Laden.
"We will not surrender without evidence. Where are the facts. We call all people and all countries to negotiation. We are part of the world. We are happy to help any action that is peaceful."
Mr Zaeef also said bin Laden was still inside Afghanistan although he did not know precisely where. "The people who know are those who have control of him."
Earlier, the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Ms Wendy Chamberlain, held a 90-minute meeting in Islamabad with President Pervez Musharref during which she shared reported evidence of bin Laden's culpability in the September 11th attack on the World Trade Centre in New York.
Gen Musharref is walking a delicate line as he co-operates with the US in permitting the use of Pakistani airspace and also with the sharing of intelligence information.
But he must deal here with a vocal minority of well-armed religious fundamentalists whose presence and visibility far outstrips their electoral strength.